“Bruce Jenner has always been confused with his gender identity…” said Olympic gold medal winner Bruce Jenner in his interview with Diane Sawyer on ABC’s 20/20 last week.

The interview has since lead to an outpouring of support from groups around the country.

But the star’s coming out hasn’t been easy – “I don’t want to disappoint people,” said Jenner who Sawyer then called a real life super hero.

Jenner asked ABC to use male pronouns, but he used both male and female pronouns during the interview.

“That is me,” said Jenner as Sawyer held up old photos from the athlete’s 1976 Olympics performance. “That is her.”

“Jenner’s story is helping people understand what it means to be transgender and inspiring them to learn more about the challenges that face their transgender friends, co-workers, and family members,” said GLADD, a national LGBTQ Youth support group, who said after the interview “everyone knows someone who is transgender.”

GLADD included a link to their “tips for transgender allies” form to help those who might not understand the change Jenner is going through.

Have a look at some of the Jenner interview below:

But Jenner’s interview wasn’t the only broadcast story around the topic of being transgender. Richmond’s WRIC ABC 8 followed up the national story with one focusing on some of Richmond’s own trans community.

“It was to the point that I either transitioned or I killed myself,” Aydan O’Connor told WRIC while touring Hollywood Cemetery. Aydan detailed the struggles he faced coming out, being expelled from his family, but finally finding peace and love in his new life as a man.

Afton Bradley, another trans local, echoed the issues faced by his community. “There isn’t a hierarchy,” he said. “We’re all people. We’re all humans.”

Bradley said he left his home in Albemarle County right after high school. Now, a long time Richmond resident and a transgender success story, he’s devoted his life to getting a social work degree and supporting other trans folks like himself.

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